The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) provides basic dental services to children aged between 2 and 17 years.
Program information for families
The CDBS provides individual benefits for a range of services including examinations, x-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canals and extractions. Benefits are not available for orthodontic or cosmetic dental work and cannot be paid for any services provided in a hospital.
On 15 December 2016, the previous Minister for Health announced changes to the benefits cap entitlement commencing 1 January 2017 (including changing the benefits cap to $700). On 8 February 2017, the Minister for Health and Minister for Sport, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, announced that the benefit cap entitlement under the CDBS will be reinstated to $1,000. All eligible children will continue to have access to a benefit cap of $1,000 over a two calendar year period.
The CDBS has a means test, which requires receipt of Family Tax Benefit Part A or a relevant Australian Government payment.
Families can check whether their child is eligible for the CDBS by contacting the Department of Human Services. General information about the program can also be found on the Department of Human Services website.
The 2 year cap period starts when a child or teenager first gets an eligible dental service.
Eligibility:
- We assess eligibility at the beginning of each calendar year and it's valid for the entire year. Children who become eligible later in the calendar year will have their eligibility backdated to begin on 1 January of that calendar year.
- Before you provide any services, check your patient's eligibility and balance. You can do this through Health Professional Online Services (HPOS) or by calling us.
